Leather-stretching frame.



' C. BISHOP.

LEATHER STRETCHING FRAME.

APPLICATION FILED 05c. 28. 1915.

Patented Oct. 3, 1916.

INVENTOR.

WITNESS CHARLES BISHOP, 0F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

LEATHER-STRETGHING FRAME.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 3, 1916.

Application filed December 28, 1915. Serial No. 68,988.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES BISHOP, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Leather Stretching Frames, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates more particularly to that class of leather stretching frames used for stretching hides in the process of preparing the same for the market, the hide being stretched in its entirety without trimming off any of the irregularities and thus requiring means for holding it to the frame which may be adjusted to fit any hide.

The objects of the invention are to pro vide such a frame adapted to secure and stretch hides varying in size and shape; to avoid damaging the edges of thehide in securing it to the frame; to thus effect a saving in leather by not having to trim the same; to provide means for securing the hide to the frame which may be quickly applied or removed; to provide such means which will grip the leather firmly and without puncturing or damaging thesame; to obtain a thorough stretching of the hide; to apply a constant and even pull upon the hide for stretching the same; to afford free access of air to both the, outer and inner surfaces of the hide; to thus dry the hide without loss of time; to reduce expense of-production of the leather; to secure simplicity of construction and operation, and to obtain other advantages and results as may be brought out in the following description. 7 v I Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals of reference indicate the same parts throughout the several views; Figure 1 is a side elevation of a leather stretching frame embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is an end view of the same, and Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are cross-sections taken on lines A-A BB, and C-C respectively of Fig. 1.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in said drawings, the reference numeral 1 indicates a rail or pole supported in horizontal position in any suitable manner, as by resting at its ends upon beams 2, 2. Hanging over this rail 1 is a frame 3 comprising halves or sections 4:, 4 one upon each side of the rail in substantial registration one with the other. Each of these sections comprises separated and substantially parallel uprights 5, 6 at its opposite ends. Between the lower ends of these uprights is a 'bottom piece? fast with respect to the uprights and separating the same a suflicient distance sothat the hind shank and head or neck of a hide when stretched between said uprights will terminate thereupon. A corner filler 8 is provided between the bottom piece 7'and one of the uprights, as v6, this corner piece .being fast with respect to the said parts in the same plane therewith and of such proportions that the forepart or edge of the hide will overlie the same. I

' In operation, the hide is secured to the uprights, bottom piece and edge of the corner filler, it beingunderstood that the hide is doubled upon itself through its middle and hung over the rail 1'so that its opp'o-i site sides may be clamped similarly upon the two sections. Obviously, therefore, half of the hide will be upon one side of the 'frameand half upon the other, each half being securely clamped'to the frame. Inasmuch as the frame 6 is vertically slidable upon the rail 1 its weight will be carried by the hide itself which is held up by the pole or rail 1. r

As shown in the drawings, the sections 4:, at of the frame are parallel and separated sufiiciently to permit the rail to fit loosely therebetween, and at the upper ends, between the uprights 5, 6, spacingblocks 9, 9 are provided overlying'the rail but sufficiently separated therefrom so as not to interfere with the downward movement of the frame as the hide is stretched. Wedges or shims 10, 10 are provided which may be inserted between the blocks 9, 9 and the adjacent portions of the rail whereby the frame may be held at any desired height, such for instance, as when a hide is being clamped upon the frame, but it will be understood'that these shims are removed after the hide is attached so as to allow the full weight of the frame to come upon and stretch the hide. Adjacent thebottom' of the/frame the sections are held against'separating, andI have shown braces 11, 11 at the ends of the sections for this purposewhich may also be utilized as handles for grasping and raising the frame when so desired.

Preferably the clamps for securing the hide to the frame comprise cleatsadapted to lie fiatwise of the, sections and bolted thereto. Beneath the cleats and between the bolts i at will.

are wedges which may be inserted laterally toward the edge of the-hide to avoid wrinkling the same. In the present disclosure two such cleats are shown for the hind quarter of the hide upon the upright at the left hand end of Fig. 1, three cleats upon the bottom piece, one upon the corner filler, and a securing means for the head or neck of the hide upon the upright at the right hand end of Fig. l.

.Referring to the clamps for the hind quarter of the hide at'the left "hand end of Fig. 1 upon the upright 5, both are substantially alike and extend longitudinally of said upright at suitable distances apart. These clamps each comprise cleats 13 of suflicient length and strength "for the purpose, the cleats having bolts 14, 14 adjacent their ends extending through the upright and'also through similar cleats 15flat upon the back of the upright. The nut is preferably upon the outside of the section so that it may be readily tightened or loosened A similar clamp is provided upon the bottom piece 7 adj acentthe end upright just described, this clamp being similar to those upon the upright and extending'longitudinally of the bottom piece. It will be noted that these clamps so'far described are stationary, that is, do not move in the plane of the frame, and the hide in being secured to the frame is engaged first by these stationary clamps andthen attached'along the rest of its edges by movable clamps which may be positioned wherever the hide re quires the same.

A movable clamp is shown upon the bottom piece adjacent the end of the fixed clamp just described extending also longitudinally of the bottom piece and comprising a cleat 16 shown having bolts'17 securing it to the section and provided with wedges 18, 18 therebetween, inthis instance a third bolt 17 being employed at the middle of the cleat between the ends of the two wedges. These bolts all pass through a cleat 19 upon the back of'the bottom piece, and vertical slots 20 are provided inathe bottom piece toallow-the clamp to be raised and lowered as may be necessary or 'desirable. .Itwill be noted that by having the bolts extend through cleats upon both sides of the bottom piece the clamp is held together as a unit and may be moved to'position with minimum effort and attention. .As shown in the drawing, the slots 20 extend from about'the'middle ofthe bottom piece to its top, and a strip 21 along the top of said bottom piece closes the ends of the slots so as to prevent the clamp from being removed and becomingrlost .or damaged as well as for reinforcing the bottom piece where weakened by cuttingto make the slots. .At'the end of the clamp just described away from the fixed clamps or toward the corner filler is a clamp 22 hinged upon the bottom piece and adapted to be nion upon which the cleat may be swung.

Adjacent its opposite end the cleat has another bolt 25 extending therethrough and through an arcuate slot 26 in the bottom piece and corner filler the center of curvature ofwhich is at thetrunnion bolt 24. In this way the cleat may be swung-to Whatever position it is needed/ Thecleat extends be yond the bolt 25 in the arcuate slot providing a suitable handle 27 by which the same maybe manipulated. A wedge 28 is provided for this pivoted cleat adapted to be inserted thereunder and secure the hide in position.

7 Along the inner edge of the corner filler is another clamp 29, providing a cleat 30 having bolts 31 at its opposite ends and one midway therebetween. These bolts extend through-to the opposite side of the section and pass through a similar cleat 32. Slots 33 are provided for-the bolts in-the corner filler, of such shape as to permitthe clamp to be either moved towardthe edge of the corner filler or swung at an angle thereto.

To effect this the opposite edges of the outside slots are substantially parallel to each other and perpendicular to the edge of the corner filler. These slots WlflGIltOWiLId the edge'o'fthe filler,-their edges which are nearest curving outward towardeach other from the small toward the large ends thereof. The middle slot hasits edges curving outwar'dtoward the end slots sothat its end toward the edge of the filler will be wider than its other end. V'WGClgGS 34, 34 are provided which can be inserted beneath the cleats and clampthe hide.

' For purposes of illustration I have shown means of a different-kind upon the upright adjacent the corner filler for securing the head or neck thereto, which comprises a plurality'of vertical slots 33 arranged side by side. and of sufficient length for the'purpose. A Wedge 36 substantially as long as the slotsis provided which can be inserted in any one of the sameso as to standperpendicular'to the plane of the frame section.

In securing the hideto the frame by this clamping means, the wedge is forced in one .ing means ofeach section are entirely independent of the-clamping means of the other section so that the hide may be secured to "first one side and then the other as may be desired.

The hides when applied'to the frame are usually wet and somewhat slippery, and in order to obtain a better clamp upon the same the sections are grooved longitudinally beneath the clamps as shown in the enlarged section of Fig. 5 as at 37. By driving the wedges firmly between the cleats and the hide, the surface of the hide toward the frame and beneath the wedges will enter the grooves and thus form a very secure attachment of the hide to the frame. Furthermore, a plurality of weights 38 are shown at the bottom of the frame which may be used or not as may be found desirable or necessary. These weights are shown supported upon transverse pins 39 beneath the sections of the frame adjacent the bottom thereof.

In operation, the hide is drawn over the rail and with the shims inserted beneath the spacing blocks to support the frame at the proper height the stationary clamps are first manipulated to secure the hind quarter of the hide to the frame, after which the movable clamps are positioned and their wedges forced in to firmly grasp the hide. After the hide is thus attached to both sections of the frame, the shims are removed, which allows the weight of the frame to come upon the hide and stretch the same. lVeights may be applied in sufficient quantity to obtain the desired tension upon the hide, and it will be readily appreciated that the tension thus obtained is even and continuous so as to not strain the leather suddenly or unduly. It may be pointed out, that a particular advantage of this frame resides in economy of space which is obtained by doubling the hide and at the same time obtaining a free passage of air on both inside and outside of the hide. Also the entire value of the hide is retained, no holes or deformations spoiling any parts of itwhich will be readily recognized as advantageous and important. Furthermore the time saved in applying a hide to the frame by my improved securing means is considerable.

Obviously detail modifications and changes may be made in manufacturing my improved leather stretching frame without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and I do not wish to be understood as restricting myself except as required by the following claims when construed in the light of the prior art.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is.

. 1. A leather stretching frame comprising a rail, sections slidable vertically at opposite sides of said rail adapted to receive a hide hung upon said rail, and means for clamping said hide at its edges to the sections whereby the weight of the frame may be applied to the hide for stretching the same.

2. A leather stretching frame comprising a rail, separated sections slidable vertically at opposite sides of said rail adapted to receive a hide hung upon said rail and permit free access of air to the inner side thereof, and means for clamping said hide at its edges to the sections whereby the weight of the frame may be applied to the hide for stretching the same.

3. A leather stretching frame comprising a rail, sections slidable vertically at opposite sides of said rail adapted to receive a hide hung upon said rail, and a plurality of wedges cooperating with said sections for clamping said hide at its edges to the sections whereby the weight of the frame may be applied to the hide for stretching the same.

4:. In a leather stretching frame adapted to receive and hold a hide extended, cleats at intervals around the said frame, and wedges adapted to be inserted beneath said cleats for clamping the hide to the frame.

5. In a leather stretching frame adapted to receive and hold a hide extended, adjustable cleats at intervals around the said frame, and wedges adapted to be inserted beneath said cleats for clamping the hide to the frame. 1

6. In a leather stretching frame adapted to receive and hold a hide extended, a plurality of stationary cleats and a plurality of adjustable cleats arranged at intervals around the said frame, and wedges adapted to be inserted beneath said cleats for clamping the hide to the frame.

7. In a leather stretching frame adapted to receive and hold a hide extended, cleats at intervals around the frame, and wedges adapted to be inserted beneath said cleats for clamping the hide to the frame, said frame providing grooves beneath a part of said wedges for obtaining a secure grip upon the hide.

8. Ina leather stretching frame adapted to receive and hold a hide extended, said frame providing a plurality of slots, a wedge adapted to be inserted in any one of said slots and carry a portion of the margll of the hide therewith for clamping the hi e.

9. A leather stretching frame comprising a rail, sections slidable vertically at 0pposite sides of said rail adapted toreceive a hide hung upon said rail, means for clamping said hide at its edges to the sections, and weights upon the frame supported by the hide thereby stretching the same.

CHARLES BISHOP.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "commissioner of .Patentu, Washington, I). 0." 

